Because of growing up in a strict family, do you feel like you struggle with your spirituality instead of identifying as weird? How do you balance those identities?
As a black woman, that has to be in my genes at this point. All in all, I feel like Black women tell you their stories, and it’s like, “Girl, how are you?” But it was a struggle. I feel like I have to learn to love myself again, which is scary because I’ve never hated myself. But I realized that, almost to the point of brainwashing, I was always told being gay was bad. And I had to say, “Look, you’ve got to get through this.” Because even if I had the choice, I don’t even regret that I love women. And it’s exciting because I see God in my life in so many ways, but maybe He just seems to be moody about this one thing about me, but I’m not going to let it dictate my whole life. command what makes me happy. So even it took time to say it, and there were some setbacks, but I think I’m at a point now where I love God, the earth, and the universe, but I also love myself. And this town is big enough for both of us.
And for you, do you feel like music is one of the means to achieve that form of self-acceptance?
I feel that way all the time. I was quite insecure and things grew up where I did. So I had to work through that, but music was a great catalyst for my self-actualization, and I feel like I’m in a good place.
You have struggled with anxiety and depression. So, how has your relationship with mental health evolved since entering the limelight?
Once I stopped being like “this is all the wrong thing about me” is when things changed for me. I was very self conscious but didn’t do anything about it. And more recently, I started committing to, “What’s the first step to not being this person?” I’ve done a lot of things, including therapy and meditation, but I feel what helps the most is being kinder, more patient, and like that,”Hey, you know how you treat this person? You need to start doing it with yourself. “I’ve learned to give myself such kindness and patience because I can be my worst critic, you know?
